La calidad de vida es un aspecto relevante en la vida de las personas, más aún cuando se presentan comorbilidades altas en población general, por lo que su medición de forma válida y confiable es ...necesaria. Objetivo: Determinar las propiedades psicométricas del Instrumento de Evaluación de Funcionalidad en el Tratamiento para Enfermedades Crónicas (FACT-GP) en población general mexicana. Método: Se empleó un diseño transversal, con un muestreo no probabilístico, por disponibilidad. Análisis estadístico: Se realizó un modelo factorial confirmatorio. Resultados: Se incluyeron 254 participantes con M = 23.5 años (21-32). Se identificaron 4 factores con 18 reactivos. La consistencia interna de la escala global fue .81, que explican el 58.93 % de la varianza. El análisis factorial confirmatorio presenta índices adecuados (CFI, RMR, RMSEA), que indican un ajuste equilibrado y parsimonioso de la estructura del modelo. Conclusión: El FACT-GP mostró una estructura similar a la versión original, con indicadores válidos y confiables para su uso en la atención clínica e investigación dirigida a población general mexicana.
In this work we present results and analysis concerning the processing and characterization of Gallium Nitride (GaN) thin films (TF) grown on Si (111) substrates by pulsed laser deposition technique ...(PLD), which were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), photoluminescence (PL) and Raman spectroscopy (RS). The GaN films showed the hexagonal phase with a preferential orientation in the (100) direction, SEM pictures showed a cauliflower-like morphology. Room temperature PL studies showed the so called GaN-yellow band, at 2.29 eV, as well as the donor-acceptor (DA) pair luminescent transition around 3.0 eV. At 10 K, phonon replicas, separated by 69 meV, were observed. By RS, the optical mode on 710 cm-1 was observed, corresponding to the longitudinal optical phonon, A1 (LO), as reported for this material.
Introducción: La adherencia terapéutica es un aspecto clave en el éxito del tratamiento en oncología, sin embargo, su medición es un reto dentro del sistema de salud. Asimismo, no se tienen escalas ...especificas validas o construidas para evaluar la adherencia en pacientes con cáncer de mama. Objetivo: Determinar las propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Adherencia Terapéutica al Cáncer de Mama (EAT-CaMa). Método: Se empleó un diseño no experimental, instrumental con un muestreo no probabilístico. Se incluyeron 189 participantes con diagnóstico de CaMa entre 21 y 84 años. Análisis estadísticos: Se realizó un análisis factorial exploratorio y consistencia interna. Resultados: La EATCaMa de 27 reactivos, obtuvo una consistencia interna global α= 0,81 y una varianza explicada del 64%. Se identificaron factores de autoeficacia y comunicación médico paciente, así como varios indicadores. Conclusión: El EAT-CaMa es un instrumento breve, válido y confiable para la evaluación multidimensional de la adherencia al tratamiento en población con CaMa. La estructura factorial identificada corrobora componentes reportados en la literatura y clínicamente relevantes. Se recomienda su uso en la atención clínica (inicio y seguimiento del tratamiento) y en investigación.
This study performed a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate the environmental impact of chicken meat production from a Mexican case study, with a “cradle-to-slaughterhouse gate” approach. To ...overcome the LCA's limitations and provide a more holistic picture of the system, simulation and artificial intelligence techniques were integrated. First, raw material/energy requirements were obtained from the case study and simulated using Process simulation (PS) and Monte Carlo (MC) simulation to estimate the emissions and quantify their uncertainty. Then, IMPACT 2002 + was used to calculate the overall impact using Ecoinvent and LCA Food databases. The results highlight that chicken farms are the main factors responsible for the environmental impacts assessed, where feed production (use of chemicals and energy requirements) and on-farm emissions (organic waste decomposition) are the main contributors. Concerning the slaughterhouse, the energy production (electricity and steam) and the cooling-related activities present a significant impact. Afterwards, three impact allocation procedures (mass method, neural networks, and stepwise regression) were tested, showing similar results. Finally, a multiobjective optimization model based on a Genetic Algorithm was applied looking to minimize the environmental impacts and maximize the economic benefits. The selected alternative achieved a reduction of 15.14% per functional unit at the environmental indicators. The results encourage the use of support techniques for LCA to perform a reliable assessment and an environmental/economic optimization of the system.
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•An integrated methodology based on LCA is applied on a Mexican chicken meat system.•Variability and uncertainty are propagated into LCA results by simulation.•Importance (%) of each core product is determined by three allocation techniques.•An improvement of the system performance is possible using genetic algorithms.•The proposed techniques helps LCA to provide a more holistic picture of the system.
Sugarcane cultivation requires correct fertilizer rates. However, when nutrients are not available, or there is over-fertilization, the yields are significantly reduced and the environmental burden ...increase. In this study, it is proposed a decision support system (DSS) for the correct NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) fertilization. The DSS consists of two fuzzy models; the edaphic condition model (EDC-M) and the NPK fertilization model (NPK-M). The DSS using parameters from soil analysis and is based on the experience of two groups of experts to avoid the bias to the reality of a single group of professionals. The results of the DSS are compared with the results of soil analysis and those of the group of experts. One hundred and sixty tests were developed in the NPK-M. The N rate shows R
2
=0.981 for the DSS and R
2
=0.963 for soil analyzes. The P rate shows R
2
=0.9702 for the DSS and R
2
=0.9183 for the soil analyzes. The K rate shows R
2
=0.9691 for the DSS and R
2
=0.9663 for the soil analyzes. Environmental results indicate that the estimated rates with the DSS do reduce the environmental impact on the tests performed.
The cane sugar industry in Mexico depends heavily on the supply of energy, fossil fuels and material resources for its proper operation. The overuse of these resources plus the technical and ...technological deficiency causes severe environmental consequences. This scientific work aims to analyze the environmental damage attributable to cane sugar production following the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. System boundaries include sugarcane growing and harvesting, sugarcane transportation, sugar milling and electricity cogeneration from bagasse. The associated emissions were acquired from the SimaPro-Ecoinvent database, the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB) and the Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon Research Station (ART). The life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) was carried out by SimaPro 8.3.0 software and the characterization method used was IMPACT 2002+. The results show that sugarcane growing and harvesting stage provides the most harmful environmental impacts (52%) followed by electricity cogeneration (25.7%), sugarcane transportation (12.1%) and finally, sugar milling (10.2%). Regarding the environmental contributions at the endpoint categories, the highest percentage of impacts is found in the Human health category (53%), followed by Climate change (21%), Ecosystem quality (16%) and Resources (10%). The LCA in cane sugar production can support the decision-making process to deal with this environmental problem.
Central nervous system (CNS) tuberculosis is the most lethal and devastating form among the diseases caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The mechanisms by which M. tuberculosis bacilli enter the ...CNS are still unclear. However, the BBB and the BCSFB have been proposed as possible routes of access into the brain. We previously reported that certain strains of M. tuberculosis possess an enhanced ability to cause secondary CNS infection in a mouse model of progressive pulmonary tuberculosis. Here, we evaluated the morphostructural and molecular integrity of CNS barriers. For this purpose, we analyzed through transmission electron microscopy the ultrastructure of brain parenchymal microvessels and choroid plexus epithelium from animals infected with two mycobacterial strains. Additionally, we determined the expression of junctional proteins and cytokines by immunological techniques. The results showed that the presence of M. tuberculosis induced disruption of the BCSFB but no disruption of the BBB, and that the severity of such damage was related to the strain used, suggesting that variations in the ability to cause CNS disease among distinct strains of bacteria may also be linked to their capacity to cause direct or indirect disruption of these barriers. Understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in CNS tuberculosis may facilitate the establishment of new biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
To investigate the impact of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from APOA5, APOC3, CETP, ATP binding cassette transporter A1 and SIK3 genes in the development of hypertriglyceridemia in HIV ...patients under antiretroviral therapy.
A case-control study was developed. Leukocytic genomic DNA was extracted and genotyping for SNPs rs662799, rs964184, rs5128, rs2854116, rs2854117, rs3764261, rs4149310, rs4149267 and rs139961185 was performed by real time-PCR using TaqMan allelic discrimination assays, in Mexican mestizo patients with HIV infection, with hypertriglyceridemia (>1.7 mmol/L) under antiretroviral therapy. Genetic variants were also investigated in a control group of normolipidemic HIV patients (≤ 1.7 mmol/L). Haplotypes and gene interactions were analyzed.
A total of 602 HIV patients were genotyped (316 cases and 286 controls). Age and antiretroviral regimen based on protease inhibitors were associated with hypertriglyceridemia (P = 0.0001 and P = 0.0002. respectively). SNP rs964184 GG genotype in APOA5 gene exhibited the highest association with hypertriglyceridemia risk (OR, 3.2, 95% CI, 1.7-5.8, P = 0.0001); followed by SNP rs139961185 in SIK3 gene (OR = 2.3; (95% CI, 1.1-4.8; P = 0.03 for AA vs. AG genotype; and APOC3 rs5128 GG genotype, (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.1-4.9; P = 0.04) under codominant models. These associations were maintained in the adjusted analysis by age and protease inhibitors based antiretroviral regimens.
This study reveals an association between rs964184 in APOA5; rs5128 in APOC3 and rs139961185 in SIK3 and high triglyceride concentrations in Mexican HIV-patients receiving protease inhibitors. These genetic factors may influence the adverse effects related to antiretroviral therapy.
Background The burden of cardiovascular diseases is predicted to escalate in developing countries. We investigated the descriptive epidemiology, practice patterns, and outcomes of patients ...hospitalized with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in African, Latin American, and Middle Eastern countries. Methods In this prospective observational registry, 12,068 adults hospitalized with a diagnosis of ACS were enrolled between January 2007 and January 2008 at 134 sites in 19 countries in Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. Data on patient characteristics, treatment, and outcomes were collected. Results A total of 11,731 patients with confirmed ACS were enrolled (46% with ST-elevation myocardial infarction STEMI, 54% with non–ST elevation–ACS). During hospitalization, most patients received aspirin (93%) and a lipid-lowering medication (94%), 78% received a β-blocker, and 68% received an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. Among patients with STEMI, 39% did not receive fibrinolysis or undergo percutaneous coronary intervention. All-cause death at 12 months was 7.3% and was higher in patients with STEMI versus non–ST elevation–ACS (8.4% vs 6.3%, P < .0001). Clinical factors associated with higher risk of death at 12 months included cardiac arrest, antithrombin treatment, cardiogenic shock, and age >70 years. Conclusions In this observational study of patients with ACS, the use of evidence-based pharmacologic therapies for ACS was quite high, yet 39% of eligible patients with STEMI received no reperfusion therapy. These findings suggest opportunities to further reduce the risk of long-term ischemic events in patients with ACS in developing countries.
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